Tanner Hollinger is a late-rising tight end for the 2024 recruiting class out of Nebraska. After a late push from Illinois, Hollinger revealed his commitment decision on Wednesday.

Since the start of June, Hollinger generated offers from Miami (OH), Ball State, Brown, Navy and UAB. Illinois offered Hollinger on Jun 23 during an official visit, and that time in Champaign paid off.

Hollinger confirmed that pledge on social media:

Hollinger is listed at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds out of Cross County High School in Stromsburg, Nebraska, so he has prototypical size for the position at the next level. He is unrated by the composite rankings but 247 Sports lists Hollinger as a 3-star recruit, the 97th TE in the country and the No. 16 player out of Nebraska for the class of 2024.

Impact of Tanner Hollinger’s commitment

Hollinger becomes the 16th player committed to Illinois in the 2024 recruiting class, a group that currently ranks 40th in the country per the 247 Sports Composite. The Illini hold commitments from a pair of TEs in Hollinger and in-state prospect Karsen Konkel.

During Bret Bielema’s first season with the Illini, Illinois utilized 3 TEs throughout the 2022 season in Tip Reiman, Luke Ford and Michael Marchese. That trio combined for 38 catches and 3 touchdowns, and the offense will likely look to build on that type of success with the TE position moving forward.